The Beginning of the End - Chapter VII - A New Beginning - T.A. 3018 to May 9, T.A. 3018



600 years have passed since the Fall of Edhelion and 75 years have passed since the death of the great King Thorin. His great hall in the Blue Mountains had fallen under the rule of the Dourhand clan and tribute had ceased. King Dáin of the Lonely Mountain sent a company of dwarves to investigate and it was this reason that Elrond had sent his two sons and our company to investigate the Ruins of Edhelion. We discovered Skorgrim had returned with the help of the Dourhands and in the end there was a battle that left many Dourhands and Longbeards dead and buried within Skorgims tomb while his corpse was animated and had escaped.

Bruuce Hall was one of the dwarves sent by King Dáin along with Lord Dwalin and it was he who helped many of his folk to escape the cave in that day. He and I fought alongside Dwalin as well as Elladan and Elrohir as we escaped the tomb of Skorgrim and helped restore rule to the Longbeards. However not all was as friendly as the  recent events led to strife between the dwarves and the elves. The seeds of distrust that lay dormant for the past two years were now threatening to spark a conflict not seen since the Fall of Edhelion.

However the friendship between Bruuce and I was growing and it was soon after that I returned with him to search the tunnels for some more clues as we had discovered a small cavern with ancient books from Edhelion and I wished to read them and keep them safe. We were just around the corner of where the small nook in the cavern was when we heard the distinct sound of battle coming from within it.

Two men were fighting ferociously and two elvish women were on the ground in the corner, the younger one was crying and holding the older woman as she lay unconscious. One man had long hair and the other was larger and had short hair. The long haired man was definitely a better swordsman as he disarmed the fatter man and kicked him back against the wall knocking him unconscious and then ran towards the women just as Bruuce and I were doing. The three of us managed to awaken the badly broken she-elf and as we did the younger elf-maiden cried out,

"He's getting away daddy!"

The short haired man had escaped and this seemed to not bother the long haired man much at all as he replied,

"It's ok Phoenix, I have found you and your mother and that is all that matters"

The long-haired champion was Crystopher and he was also an old friend of Bruuce Hall. The older she-elf was Windpixie, the wife of Crystopher and the little maiden was their daughter, Phoenix. The man who escaped was an enemy of Crystopher for he has poisoned his wifes mind and together they had stolen away Phoenix and ran away together and had Crystopher imprisoned and beaten for the last two years. The evil man's name was Erik Amundrud and he was a servant of the Dark Lord Sauron.

I healed Windpixie and as I was doing so Crystopher asked me to stop before I had even finished,

"Leave her with a bit of pain so she may remember this day", is all he said as he forced my hands and staff away from her. We made sure she was safe in the Inn back in Thorins Hall before we departed for Celondim.

I learned a great deal of my new companions in the coming days as we started to help the dwarves of Thorins Hall as well as the Elves of Celondim and Duillond. But it was one night at the fire above Celondim that I learned of a great thing. Phoenix had a middle name. Her story was great as she deserved the name Phoenix but her second name was Jinoa. I had finally found the one I was searching for all of these years.

Now I just had to find a way to keep her safe for the Dark Lord had obviously wanted her and knew of her since he had sent his servants to abduct her in such a despicable way. But now he new her name as well as her people. It appeared my time to use my power had come.

I discussed the idea I had with Crystopher and Bruuce and after we agreed , Crystopher approached his daughter with the idea. Phoenix nodded in approval and we decided to wait until her sixth birthday to carry out my plan as we thought it best for her to see her mother one last time as well since she would not be involved considering she had a weak mind and could never be trusted again.

 

May 9, T.A. 3018 - The day had been a great birthday for Phoenix and her mother seemed much better than we had thought but still Crystopher insisted that we do not include her at the ceremony to be held later and although I felt wrong about it I still agreed with his decision. Bruuce and I brought Phoenix to the ruined top of the tower that lay in the water just west of Celondim. It was a great spot for we had to swim to reach it and it allowed us to be unseen from any others who may be nearby as well as we could hear if any intruders wishes to follow. I asked Phoenix if she was ready and she told me she was as she hugged her father and swam into the top of the tower where I had began to focus the last of my ancient energy. She looked at herself in the water and kissed the air and waved to herself as the light from my incantation wove itself around her in a blinding light and then a blast of light enveloped her and the young she-elf was gone forever.

Now a young hobbit girl stood in her place and she looked as if she was at least ten years older which was caused by the rift of the magic changing from the Old to the New.

"Her name?", I asked her father, Crystopher

He smiled as he looked at her and then me and replied,

"Jinoa"